Pupils are being let down by substandard science teaching, according to a
leading independent school headmaster.

A substandard science education and a lack of specialist teachers is hampering state school pupils' chances of getting into leading universities, according to a head teacher.

In some cases science pupils can't even light a Bunsen burner, said David Levin, the headmaster of the private City of London School.

Children are not being exposed to enough practical science lessons to gain the knowledge they need to study it at a higher level, he said.

"They have taught practicals which is a contradiction in terms,'' he said. "In some cases children have never really switched on a Bunsen burner.''

Speaking at a conference organised by the ARK Academy chain of schools in central London yesterday, Mr Levin said: "Until the maintained system has a sufficient number of teachers in physics, chemistry, mathematics and modern foreign languages, the social mobility debate is not going to be advanced."